54


sport@eastcorkjournal.ie Highlights Of The Year


Inter County Scene - Munster Success A Step In The Right Direction


Facing into 2017, a


meeting with All Ireland and Munster Champions Tipperary did not look at all appetising for those on the outside looking in. However those on the in- side looking out, led by Kieran Kingston and his backroom team had other ideas, and not only were Cork eyeing up Tipperary, but their sights were set on the bigger prizes on offer.


Cork 2-27 Tipperary 1-26


After upsetting the pun-


dits with a superb win over Tipperary, near neigh- bours Waterford were next on the menu in the Munster semi-final and af- ter defeating the Deise in their league clash, hopes were high that Cork would get


the better of Water- Those hopes were well


founded as Cork did in- deed floor Waterford to set up a shot at Clare in the Munster Final.


Cork 1-25 Clare 1-20


ford.


Cork 0-23 Waterford 1-18


Memories of the All


Ireland loss to the “Ban- ner Boys” were still very much to the fore as Cork ran out convincing win- ners in the


“Field of


Dreams” that is Semple Stadium in Thurles. That win now propelled Cork into an All-Ireland semi-fi- nal, something they would have taken at


ning of the year, and as luck would have it


the begin- they


were again paired with a resurgent Waterford side. On a day that Water-


ford played well, Cork were a little below par and it was the “Deise” side that would go on to contest the All –Ireland against Gal- way in a Final that whoev- er won, would be celebrat- ing a long awaited return to the top table. On the day Galway were to tri- umph as Waterford’s wait


for a victory going back to 1959 continues. It was a really good


hurling championship in 2017 and Cork played its part, picking up a Munster title along the way. Indeed the future looks bright for Cork as their U17 side claimed All Ireland Hon- ours, while


the


side were crowned Mun- ster champions, but


lost out to an outstanding


Minor just


Galway side in the All Ire- land. The U21 side got the better of Waterford with a late goal giving the victory, but Limerick, who went on to take the Munster and All-Ireland title proved to be the better side on the day. Overall in hurling it was a good year, with Gal- way taking most of the sil- verware, with young Jack Canning showcasing his talent in the final.


Thursday, 21st


December 2017


Football Story Not As Bright


Cork 1-12 Waterford 1-11


have


Alarm bells should been ringing as


Cork struggled to de- feat Waterford in Fraher Field Dungarvan, and without taking anything from a brave Waterford


display, the division 4


side should not really be able to match Cork, but they were and Cork just scraped home to set up a semi-final meeting with recent ary.


nemesis Tipper- Cork 1-10


Tipperary 1-9 The semi-final win


over Tipperary was a bit better from Peader Healy’s side in what was a low scoring affair, with Cork just edging out the Premier boys, with an- other single score victory.


Kerry 1-23 Cork 0-15


The Munster Final was not a forgone


conclu-


sion, but only the most optimistic follower could see Cork beating Kerry in the final, and without


Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: sport@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie


ever having to hit top gear Kerry ran out convincing winners, leaving Cork to look to the qualifiers to make further progress. Here Cork did fare bet-


ter. Turning in perhaps their best display of the season at Pairc Na nGael in Limerick, where they


were just pipped at the


post by Mayo who again managed to reach the fi- nal, but lost out by a point to Dublin who completed a three in a row. In U21 and


Minor,


Kerry proved the strong- er, with the Kerry minor side sweeping all before


eastcorkjournal


them on their way to All Ireland success. Their outstanding centre


for-


ward David Clifford was easily the best player I have seen all season and the hot-shot will certain- ly be in demand in 2018, wherever he plies his trade.


@eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80